Dryer Vent Safety

It’s that time of the year when we all start thinking about “Spring Cleaning!” We get the list out, rugs-check, windows-check, siding-check, and the list goes on. We spend hours preparing and planning, not to mention dollars to get our homes in ‘tip top” shape for the spring and summer. We all want a nice place to live and entertain our friends and family, so we focus on the things we can see. We may even contact our HVAC contractor to check out the AC before the summer heat kicks in. But, there is one item that we usually can’t or don’t see that should be on your list. This item is many times ignored or forgotten. Getting your dryer vent cleaned!

I can’t tell you the amount of times I get a call for service from a customer stating their dryer quit working, they had a service person out, and they paid hundreds of dollars to repair, or they had to replace the dryer due to a clogged vent. The first question I always ask is “when was the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned?” The response many times is “never”, “years ago”, or “I can’t remember.”

The National Fire Protection Associations “Fact Sheet>>Research for the years 2010-2014 indicates that municipal fire departments responded to approximately 15,970 fires involving dryers or washing machines”. These incidents resulted in approximately $238 million in property damage.
Maintaining regular service for your dryer vent has several benefits, the first and most obvious is safety, second, reduced drying time, third, reduced utility costs, finally, reduced repair costs. At MJL Services we recommend annual service for your dryer vent. We complete a thorough cleaning from the inside, including the duct from the dryer to the wall, and from the outside. This ensures that lint and debris is properly removed. We will also note any issues and discuss cost effective resolutions. It is our goal to provide great customer service and ensure that every customers home is treated like our own!